HB1153
An Act For The Department Of Agriculture - Promotion Boards Appropriation For The 2025-2026 Fiscal Year.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill appropriates funds from various agricultural promotion funds to the Arkansas Department of Agriculture for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. The appropriations are designated for operating, research, and development expenses for specific commodity promotion boards. These include the Beef Council, Catfish Promotion Board, Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, Rice Research and Promotion Board, Soybean Promotion Board, and Wheat Promotion Board. The bill specifies the amounts to be allocated to each board for various categories of expenses, such as maintenance, general operations, professional fees, promotional items, and research and development. It also includes clauses regarding compliance with other state laws and legislative intent for the disbursement of these funds. Finally, it declares an emergency to ensure the act takes effect on July 1, 2025, for the immediate preservation of public peace, health, and safety.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill are the various commodity promotion boards under the Arkansas Department of Agriculture, including the Beef Council, Catfish Promotion Board, Corn and Grain Sorghum Promotion Board, Rice Research and Promotion Board, Soybean Promotion Board, and Wheat Promotion Board. These entities will receive significant funding for their operational, research, and development activities. The agricultural industries represented by these boards, such as beef, catfish, corn, sorghum, rice, soybeans, and wheat, will also benefit from the potential outcomes of the funded research and promotional efforts, which could lead to improved production, market development, and consumer engagement. Ultimately, consumers and the broader agricultural economy of Arkansas could see indirect benefits from advancements and promotions within these sectors.
Who Might Suffer?
This bill primarily involves the allocation of funds already designated for agricultural promotion, and as such, there are no immediately identifiable groups or entities that would be directly and negatively impacted by its passage in a detrimental financial sense. The appropriations are sourced from specific agricultural promotion funds, suggesting that these funds are derived from assessments or contributions related to the respective commodities. Therefore, the bill does not appear to impose new taxes or fees. However, any potential negative impacts would likely be indirect and could arise if the allocated funds do not achieve their intended promotional or research goals, or if the priorities set by the promotion boards do not align with the broader interests of all stakeholders within those agricultural sectors.